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QR Code, Quick Response Code

QR Code
Symbol sizes

Description of QR Code, Quick Response Code

QR Code, Quick Response CodeThe QR code is a modern square 2D code. The marks in three of the four corners of the matrix provide the orientation. Due to automatic error correction, the QR code is very robust and therefore widespread.

Which of the numerous types should I use to create a QR Code?
Usually you simply select the QR Code type. This will generate the smallest possible QR Code.

If you want to work with a fixed error correction, please select one of the following 4 types:
  • QR Code ECC LEVEL L : 7% of the data can be restored.
  • QR Code ECC LEVEL M : 15% of the data can be restored.
  • QR Code ECC LEVEL Q : 25% of the data can be restored.
  • QR Code ECC LEVEL H : 30% of the data can be restored.
These 4 types use fixed error correction and create the smallest possible code depending on the data to encode.

Alternatively, you can specify the symbol size if you need a constant size. Select one of the types with fixed-size for this purpose, e.g. QR Code 45x45. The error correction is then selected automatically as good as possible depending on the amount of data.

A list of the QR Code symbol sizes with examples and the ActiveBarcode type numbers is provided for your convenience.

Intensive technical background information can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code.

Many use cases have developed around the QR code. Encoding URLs, WiFi passwords, GEO locations and vCards are just some examples. They all use the QR code to encode this data, and it's just a matter of formatting that data. Sometimes you just need to start the text with a special tag:
  • QR Code demo URLshttps://
    If you want to encode an URL you'll use this format:
    https://www.activebarcode.com.
    If you scan that QR Code with your smartphone you can visit that URL directly without entering that URL.
  • QR Code demo for GEO location format. Maps to the Reichstag Building in Berlin.geo:
    If you want to encode a GEO location you'll use this format:
    geo:52.5186234,13.3739932.
    If you scan that QR Code with your smartphone you can visit that place with the maps application.
  • vCard:
    If you want to encode a vCard you can use this as a template to start with. If you scan that QR Code with your smartphone you can add the encoded data to your contacts.
    BEGIN:VCARD<LF>
VERSION:2.1<LF>
N:Gump;Forrest<LF>
FN:Forrest Gump<LF>
ORG:Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.<LF>
TITLE:Shrimp Man<LF>
PHOTO;GIF:http://www.example.com/dir_photos/my_photo.gif<LF>
TEL;WORK;VOICE:(111) 555-1212<LF>
TEL;HOME;VOICE:(404) 555-1212<LF>
ADR;WORK:;;100 Waters Edge;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America<LF>
LABEL;WORK;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:100 Waters Edge=0D=0ABaytown, LA 30314=0D=0AUnited States of America<LF>
ADR;HOME:;;42 Plantation St.;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America<LF>
LABEL;HOME;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:42 Plantation St.=0D=0ABaytown, LA 30314=0D=0AUnited States of America<LF>
EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:[email protected]<LF>
REV:20080424T195243Z<LF>
END:VCARD
    Video: How to add a vCard QR code into an image.

    Link to the REST API to demo how to create such barcode.
    QR Code demo for vCard.
QR Code is registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED

Technical data

Valid characters: ASCII 1-255
Length: Variable with no fixed length.
Check digit: Calculated according to Reed-Solomon-Error correction
ActiveBarcode calculates the check digit automatically.
Type#: QR Code - #113 - CODEQRCODE
List of all symbol sizes
Info: This barcode types has no human readable text based on the specification. The ShowText property has no effect, when using one of this codes.